Well folks, it’s been real. That’s me done. Here’s a placeholder for Ali’s report which should arrive imminently.
Sis days of cricket has seen two teams bowled out twice for two innings victories. Thankfully the series is all square as we head to the Oval in 12 days’ time. It could go either way. England were poor at Lord’s and South Africa were just as poor here in Manchester. Is one team batter than the other? Can one set of batters do enough in the first innings and negate hostile and probing bowling with the new ball?
If you’re asking me I think England are the better equipped to get things working down in south London. South Africa will be without Rassie van der Dussen who has a fractured finger and that is surely that for Aiden Markram.
Ben Stokes, player of the match with a ton and a four wicket match haul, will probably play the same team. Ollie Robinson was superb and should keep his place and Zak Crawley did enough I rate.
Love this gig, love the correspondence, love this silly game that lasts as long as it lasts and keeps us gripped throughout.
I’ll be at The Oval. Can’t wait.
Cheers.
Updated
There’s good news and bad news from our correspondent Daniel Lees:
“As requested, and with great joy, I can reveal after literally seconds of googling (other search engines are etc etc) some GOOD NEWS. Which is that the WONDERFUL ECB are live streaming the One Day Cup on the ECB website and on the ECB app
“The bad news for myself, Romeo and others hoping to get out of gardening tomorrow, is that the next matches (the semis) appear to be on August 30th....pffft, Youtube replays it is then”
